Dr Evers said: 'Our findings directly link NT with increased fat absorption and obesity and suggest NT may provide a prognostic marker of future obesity and a potential target for prevention and treatment.

'From an evolutionary perspective metabolically 'thrifty' genes such as NT are highly beneficial to ensure the efficient absorption of all ingested fats but with the abundance of fats in typical Western diets NT can have a detrimental effect by contributing to increased fat storage, obesity and related metabolic disorders.'

Across the world, more than 1.7 billion people are overweight, with a body mass index (BMI) higher than 25, or obese (BMI higher than 30).

Additionally, more than 2.5 million deaths are attributed to the consequences of obesity each year.

In Britain, obesity rates are 28.4 per cent for women - the second highest in Europe behind only Malta - and 26.2 per cent for men, the worst in the continent.

In a decade it will be the fattest nation in Europe, with almost 40 per cent of adults obese.